When the Lake View High School football team switched offenses from a Wishbone this year to a run-first spread, the Chiefs' receivers were expected to take on bigger roles in 2012.

Five games into the season, 42 percent of the Chiefs' offensive production has come through the air.

Senior quarterback Alan Moreno has thrown for 584 yards and four touchdowns heading into tonight's District 4-4A opener on the road against Frenship.

Four seniors — receivers John Hernandez, Victor Muro, Jonathan Tamez and tight end Dylan Gilbert — have accounted for 544 receiving yards and all four passing TDs.

Lake View will take a 1-4 record into tonight's district opener against 4-1 Frenship, the heavy favorite to win the 4-4A crown.

If the Chiefs are going to make a push for their first playoff appearance since 2008, Lake View's receiving corps will likely play a pivotal role.

"Each one has come through in one game or another for us, and we're real appreciative of what they've done," Lake View head coach Doug Kuhlmann said. "We're confident about the fact that those four seniors, when it's time to get the ball thrown to them, they're going to be effective and make the catch."

Hernandez, who switched from running back last year, has a team-high 12 receptions for 207 yards (17.2 yards per catch) and a 57-yard TD.

Muro, a two-way starter, has made eight receptions for 116 yards (14.5 yards per catch) and a team-high three TDs.

Tamez has snagged seven passes for 129 yards (18.4 yards per catch), while Gilbert has also been very effective, making 11 catches for 92 yards (8.4 yards per catch).

Hernandez said the Chiefs have gained more confidence from week to week.

"The whole offense is just meshing together right now," the 5-foot-7, 145-pound Hernandez said. "Hopefully we can throw the ball a little bit more going into district."

The 5-11, 170-pound Tamez said Moreno has been effective distributing the ball to his slew of receivers.

Tamez tries to take what the defense gives him on a given night, whether it's catching the ball or blocking.

"There's some times that our line doesn't have enough time to protect him, and he has to run the ball," Tamez said. "I'm just doing what I have to do for the team."

Tamez said the Chiefs will have to be on their toes tonight against a stingy Frenship defense.

"They are pretty good," Tamez said. "It's going to be a tough game. We've just got to go out there and do what we have to do."

Gilbert expects the Chiefs to throw more in tonight's game, and he's been proud of the progress they're making.

"I think we've actually improved as a receiving corps," the 5-10, 205-pound tight end said. "I know our hands have gotten a lot better than they were in two-a-days, because in two-a-days we weren't very good with our hands."

Muro feels the Chiefs, who are coming off a 20-14 loss against Snyder two weeks ago, have been running better routes in their last couple of games.

From one week to the next, you never know which Lake View receiver is going to have the big night, which keeps defenses honest.

"We don't have that much speed on our side with our receivers, but we've got receivers that make big plays when we need them," the 5-7, 150-pound Muro said.

Kuhlmann acknowledges that Hernandez, Muro, Gilbert and Tamez have all made a big impact for the Chiefs.

"We're fortunate that all four seniors have adapted well to the offensive scheme, not only catching the ball well and running routes, but also in the blocking scheme." Kuhlmann said.

Lake View assistants Chris Evans and Jason Reynolds are the Chiefs' receivers coaches, and Kuhlmann said they've done a great job of developing the pass catchers.

"I'm even seeing it with the younger receivers at the JV level that they work with," Kuhlmann said. "We've improved really well this year, and I'm thankful for their coaching abilities to make those athletes better."

Evans said all four senior receivers are savvy football players who make his job easier.

"They're doing a great job," Evans said. "The consistency is one of the things that I've enjoyed out of them. As we talk about the development of the play, it seems to be making sense to them and it allows them to adapt to the play as it happens."